56% - wow. Here's a new team : Yao Ming, G. Ostertag Donyell Marshall, Vladimir Radmanovic Matt Harpring, J. Jackson, Boki Ray Allen, J. Jackson (rotation) Brent Barry, C. Arroyo -------------- Steve Francis to Portland, SAR to Seattle, Allen to Houston Mo Taylor to Seattle, Brent Barry (s&t) and Vlad Rad to Houston TE for Harpring MCE for Ostertag and Arroyo Cato for Marshall and M Palacio or Mo Pete --------------- And I haven't even traded Cat - yet. We don't need him with that lineup. Throw him in the other deals to make them work. That's just a start. There are other ways to build a similar team - a ring of smart players around Yao that can pass and shoot. I don't want any of the mentally-handicapped, pass-challenged, turnover-prone lotto Rockets to survive the purge. Burn the house down, and usher in the Yao era.
I guess the consensus is that getting him for MLE is a good deal? But it's all a moot point if he wants more than that, right? He's going to be a coveted free agent this offseason, so his price is bound to jump higher than 4 years full MLE...which we can't afford.
Try to Get Brent Barry sign and trade, not MCE. Sund has said they want to "help" move Barry, and they want a power forward in return. We don't need Mo Taylor. Mo can play his game in Seattle. Mo T for Brent Barry and another player (preferably Vlad Rad). Throw in Cat if you have to. Mo is a good sixth man again in Seattle even if they get SAR to start. That's the best way to get him - Seattle gets something back, Brent gets his money. Rockets change out of one contract for another, and they are still free to attack other FAs.
I buy all that. I buy the idea of getting him in a Rox uni. What I don't buy is why no one else will offer him a 4 yr/MLE? Can he not all but cherry pick his next (and presumably) final destination? Phil Jax has always coveted tall, 3 pt shooting guards to initiate his Triangle (Harper, Shaw). Blazers are looking for a tall, good guy guard to lead them past Damon's demons. Could the need be greater than next to Vince? So on and so forth. There is something missing to all this BB bizniz -- maybe everyone else is poised to make a run at him and only the Rox have been identified?
Brilliant logic. So, that means that Mobley is also better than McGrady, Lebron and Ray Allen? Cato is better than Zack Randolph and AK47? And of course it means that for the last 4 season's Francis has been no better than the 17th best PG in the NBA?
I buy all that. I buy the idea of getting him in a Rox uni. What I don't buy is why no one else will offer him a 4 yr/MLE? Can he not all but cherry pick his next (and presumably) final destination? Phil Jax has always coveted tall, 3 pt shooting guards to initiate his Triangle (Harper, Shaw). Blazers are looking for a tall, good guy guard to lead them past Damon's demons. Could the need be greater than next to Vince? So on and so forth. I think that you are correct. Somebody else will off him that type of deal. The issue will be where he wants to play. Portland and Toronto probably wouldn't interest him, they're not good enough. Depending on what LA does this offseason, he may or may not be interested there. If they dismantle the team, then no. Even if everybody comes back, he might not feel there are enough minutes there for him with Payton, Kobe and Fisher. We can offer him a talented team, minutes and a style that suits his game. But, utlimately it will be down to where he wants to play.
